hello!

my name is Crystal and i've been singing/writing/recording/performing music and songs for almost 30 years. i'm a wife {27 years), mother {to Isabella 20, Solomon 22) and mother-in-love (to Bethanne 25}, sister, daughter, friend, auntie, fashion-obsessed, horse-crazy musician raised in California, then lived 10 years in Montana, now back in CA ... but still learning about life through the seasons.

years ago, I was a part of a women's Bible study with a small group of close friends. i loved those women like sisters! i STILL do, though now many miles separate us and prevent our gathering on a regular basis. one of the things i loved so much about our group was the fact that our ages varied greatly. there were multiple decades between some of us, which meant that the life experience we each brought to the table was as diverse as our age.

i, as it so happened, was the youngest....at that time in my late 20's/early 30's. I am slow to admit this, but more than once i gave my friends a hard time about their glasses. their 'readers'. their 'cheaters'. i liked to say... "oh do you need me to read that for you?" "can you see that"? whether it was their Bible or a menu if we were out to lunch! and every time their response was..."just you wait till you turn 40".

well, i've finally come to the conclusion that they were....right! i broke down and bought my first pair of reading glasses a few months ago. my second pair, the orange ones pictured above, i purchased in Paris this last year. i'm not just getting used to the idea... i quite like it! the other day i found a box of 3 pair at TJ Maxx for 12 bucks! they're seriously so cute... at least that is the story i'm sticking with.

it took a couple years into my 40's to get to the place where i needed a little help. but now, here i am... 45 with a pair of cheaters in every room. cute ones.... but still. and here is what i like about them:

*i get to relate to my girls back home!

*they bring things into focus

*they make me have to pay attention

i've found that since everything else around is blurry when i've got the glasses on my face, i have to keep my eyes in one place. my tendency is to be distracted rather easily, so this comes as a pleasant surprise. not that i can't just as easily remove them and allow myself, enable myself, to be distracted. but i like the reminder they provide.

Hebrews 11 and 12 are perhaps 2 of the most widely recognized passages in the bible... the 'hall of Faith' and the subsequent encouragement to RUN out the race set before us. i've written quite candidly about this past year and what has transpired in my head and heart as i've worked on a new project of new music, spent countless hours writing songs, (barely) kept my eyes up looking forward, and strained to hear the Father's leading, leaning in to Him like never before. these 2 chapters have played a huge part in my writing. (more than one song on this new record reflects it!)

in THIS moment... Hebrews 12:2 is front and center.

"let us FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY set before Him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne."

fix. your. eyes. on. JESUS.

when my eyes are on anything... or anyone... else, my plans fail. even my attempts are futile. and look, we can so easily trip and mess that up. (hence Hebrews 12:1) i want...especially right this minute as i make progress and move forward with this calling, this job, this gift; as i gain momentum and start to see this thing (new album) take shape... i want to do it right! and if i allow or enable myself to get distracted by taking my eyes off of Jesus, if i think for a second that i'm doing this for anyone but HIM, i desperately want the reminder of the cross. i need to remember why... the point. the only reason. Jesus. i want everything else to be blurry, i want the only thing i see to be HIM.

what is keeping YOU from fixing your eyes on Jesus? what distractions do you need to ignore? maybe you need to get you a pair of readers and focus... fix your eyes.

my verse, my STANDard, for the month of October is Hebrews 12:2

"let us FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY set before Him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne."